Inside out Soft Contacts. Does it matter?

Question

I just recently switched from hard to soft lenses. The thing is though... Is it okay when the lens flips inside out?? I can't tell. Will it affect the prescription or possibly damage it if i wear it incorrectly??

I've tried flipping and old pair inside out and back again.. it never bowled out. It's the freshlook brand and they're thin.. so I can't tell.

Answer 1

It does matter, as the wrong way round the lenses will tend to move excessively and the edges will be likely to cause irritation, but with modern thin lenses it can be difficult to tell without practice.
It can affect the vision, but is unlikely to damage the lens. A lens that hasn't dried out can be flipped back and forth repeatedly.

Hold the lens on one fingertip, balanced on its round side. With the finger and thumb of the other hand, gently squeeze the lens, not at the edge, but slightly in from there.

If the lens edges happily curl over to form a cigar-shape, the lens is the right way round. If the lip resists that and has a tendency to curl the other way, the lens is inside out.

The older method of inspecting the shape: deeper rounder shape, right, shallower shape with a lip, wrong, still works but is often difficult to spot on the latest lenses.

(optometrist, retired)

Answer 2

mine "float" around and will not stay centered on my eyes if they are inside out. they sometimes hurt too.

In other words, although I can't tell by looking at the lens if they are inside out, I will know right away once I put them on.

I've had soft contacts for 22 years and every brand / type has been that way for me.

Answer 3

you will know.. it will irritate your eye like no other. If it's inside out, it will kind of bell out at the ends. If it's the right way, they look like a bowl.